Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” Beat Was Originally Made for Gucci Mane

After dropping a loosie called "The Heart Pt. 4," Kendrick Lamar chose to lead his new album DAMN. with "HUMBLE." produced by Mike WiLL Made-It. But in a new interview with NPR, the Atlanta producer reveals the beat was originally meant for Gucci Mane.

“With ‘HUMBLE.,’ I knew that beat was going to capture a moment," says Mike in the interview. "It just felt real urgent. I made that beat [last year] when Gucci Mane was getting out of jail; I made it with him in mind. I was just thinking, damn, Gucci’s about to come home; it’s got to be something urgent that’s just going to take over the radio.”

That urgency is probably most apparent in the beat's piano stabs, and he decided to play K. Dot the beat because "it kind of has an N.W.A./Dr. Dre feel, an Eminem kind of feel.”

Kendrick and Gucci show up together on Mike's recent Ransom 2 project for "Perfect Pint," and after making "HUMBLE." the Compton rapper thought he'd give the song back to Mike to be included on the compilation, but the ATL producer told K. Dot not only to include it on DAMN. but to make it the single too.